Mental health issues do not come with a one-size-fits-all solution. Keep communication open between you and your teen so you can be a resource to their recovery.

Safety Concerns

Together, create a plan for how your student can avoid precarious situations, what to do in an emergency, how to contact security and other safety rules. Teens should be aware that sexual assaults are more prevalent on college campuses. According to the Rape, Abuse & Incest National Network (RAINN), more than half of sexual assaults on college campuses occur from August through November. Eight out of ten sexual assaults are committed by someone the victim knows.

Incoming freshman should be educated on how to report sexual abuse and how to seek help when needed. See the RAINN website for information on staying safe on campus.

Cyber Risks

Discuss internet safety practices with your student. Educate them about the potential dangers of hackers and how to protect their private information. Use USI’s cyber checklist and implement the following best practices:

• Limit use of public Wi-Fi
• Never share passwords
• Do not access bank accounts or financial sites on shared computers
• Install antivirus protection on all computers and mobile devices
• Use strong passwords (minimum of 12 characters) and two-factor authentication when available

Cyber etiquette is also important. Inappropriate comments and explicit photos and material online expose the student and family to liability. The risks may include legal responsibility for libel or slander, as well as difficulty obtaining gainful employment in the future.

Auto

Consider keeping a teen’s vehicle at home rather than sending it to school with the student. Many colleges offer transportation options to and from campus. Keeping the vehicle at home affords a credit on the automobile policy (if the school is more than 100 miles away), which saves premium and reduces liability exposure.

If the teen takes the vehicle to school, establish rules before departure. First and foremost, no one is permitted to drive the vehicle except your child. If your child permits another person to drive the vehicle and an accident happens, the owner of the vehicle has the liability exposure, not the driver. Consider increasing liability coverage on the auto policy and umbrella policy to offset this risk.

Lack of sleep is common among students who stay up late to study or engage in social events. According to the American Academy of Sleep Medicine, drivers 16 to 24 years old are 80% more likely to be involved in a drowsy driving accident. Further, teens contribute disproportionately to traffic fatalities, according to the American Academy of Pediatrics.

Parents and guardians should stress to young drivers the dangers of texting or taking their eyes off the road to glance at phones. Teenagers are more likely to read, send texts, eat and listen to loud music while driving. Although phone use while driving should be discouraged entirely, you can help by investing in Bluetooth technology to facilitate hands-free calling.